Federal Caucus Agencies 

The Federal Caucus is a group of ten federal agencies (listed below) operating in the Columbia River Basin that have natural resource responsibilities related to the ESA.  The agencies work together to:

• better integrate, organize, and coordinate the federal fish recovery and water quality efforts in order to improve the Columbia River Basin aquatic ecosystem, and
• coordinate execution of federal trust and treaty responsibilities to Basin Native American tribes.

The Caucus accomplishes these purposes consistent with each member agency’s missions and responsibilities.  

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Endangered Species Act (ESA) jurisdiction over anadromous fish; also has a role regulating fisheries.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) - ESA jurisdiction over plants, wildlife, and resident fish; also operates and administers hatchery programs and national wildlife refuges.
• Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) - markets electricity from federal dams; also has a key role funding fish and wildlife mitigation.
• US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - operates federal dams and locks for multiple uses.
• US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) - operates federal dams for multiple uses.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - implements and enforces the Clean Water Act.
• US Forest Service (USFS) - manages the national forest system.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - manages over 16 million acres of public lands in Oregon and 370,000 acres in Washington for wildlife, recreation, timber harvest, livestock grazing, mineral extraction and other public uses.
• US Geological Survey (USGS) - A multi-disciplinary science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, geospatial information, and water.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - provides services to Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. The Northwest region incorporates Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and southeastern Alaska.